Insect-trap.



No. 632,632. Patented Sept. 5, I899. J. B. BLANKENSHIP.

INSECT TRAP.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. BLANKENSHIP, OF HOUSTON, MISSOURI.

INSECT-TRAP.

sPEcIrIcAtr'IoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,632, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed March 23,1899. Serial No. 710,263. (No miidel.)

To ct-ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. BLANKENSHIP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Texas and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insect-Traps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to insect-traps; and its object is to provide a trap of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction which will not only effectively serve the primary purpose of entrapping the insects, but also provide ready means for emptying the trap and for permitting an inspection of its interior.

The characteristic features of the invention and its details of construction will be fully described hereinafter and defined in the appended claims, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an insect-trap embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section thereof,taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The box or casing of the trap comprises ends 1 and 2, a back 3, and a bottom or base 4. The end and back boards are preferably made from suitable light wood, and the bottom 4 may be of sheet metal or wood.

The ends 1 and 2 are connected at the front of the box by a horizontal strip or board 5, which, as shown, is of a width approximately half the height of the end pieces, and abottorn strip 6, the upper edge 7 of which is beveled for apurpose hereinafter explained. The space 8 between the parallel strips 5 and 6 constitutes an opening, through which the insects enter the trap. Each of the end boards of the box is formed on its inner side and about midway of its height with a horizontal groove 9, which extends from the front of the box to a point near the rear edge of the end board. Said end boards are also each formed wit-l1 an inclined groove 10, which extends from the front edge of the board in parallel alinement with the beveled edge 7 of the strip 6 upward and rearward to intersect the rear end of the horizontal groove 9.

The reference-nu meral 11 designates a plate of sheet metal, preferably perforated, as shown, and bent upwardly at its front edge to form a vertical flange 12 The plate 11, which constitutes a guard or roof for the entrance, is supported in the grooves 9 of the end walls of the box, and its flange 12 is secured by screws 13 or like means to the outer side of the strip 5. plate 11 is bent downwardly to join the inner edge of an inclined perforated plate 15, the latter being supported in the inclined grooves 10 of the ends 1 and 2 and having its front edge bent downwardly to form a flange 16, which is secured by screws 17 or other fasteningmeans to the lower front strip 6 of the box. It will be noted that the inclination of the plate 15 corresponds to that of the beveled edge 7 of the strip 6, so that said strip serves to support the lower end of the plate.

The plate 15 constitutes the floor of the trap, and it is formed with one or more openings 18, through which the insects enter, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

The ends 1 and 2 and back 30f the box are provided with registering grooves 19 and 20 to receive a glass cover 21, which slides readily to permit the emptying of the trap, and

also exposes the interior of the trap to view.

The ends of the downwardly-turned edge 14E of the plate 9 are cut away slightly to permit of the inserting and withdrawal of said plate.

The operation and utility of the trap constructed asthus described will be apparent. The trap is supplied with bait from the top, the sliding cover being moved for this purpose, and the insects crawl up the inclined plate 15 and drop through the opening 18 onto the bottom of the trap.

The under side of the inclined plate 15 should be kept clean to present a smooth surface, so that the entrapped insects cannot climb upward and out through the opening 18.

To empty the trap, it is only necessary to turn it rearward until it rests upon the back board 3, when, after withdrawing the cover, the insects may be emptied into boiling water or otherwise disposed of.

The rear edge 14 of the i It is obvious that the plates 11 and 15 may be readily removed for oleaning or renewal by removing the screws 13 and 17 and, further, that the glass cover 21 permits an inspection of the trap at any time without opening it.

What I claim is 1. In an insect-trap, the combination with a box or casing the end Walls of which are each formed with a transverse groove, and an intersecting inclined groove; of plates fitting said grooves, and joined at their inner ends; and upper and lower strips connecting the ends of the box at the front of the latter, and supporting the outer edges of said plates.

2. In an insect-trap, the combination with a box or casing the end walls of which are each formed with a transverse groove, and an inclined groove; a guard-plate fitting said transverse grooves; a floor-plate formed with an opening, and fitting said inclined grooves; a transparent cover for said box; and parallel strips or supports at the front of the box to which the outer edges of the cured.

3. In an insect-trap, the combination with a box or casing, the end walls of which are formed with transverse grooves extending from the front to a point near the back of the box, and with inclined grooves the inner ends of which intersect the transverse grooves; of a guard plate fitting said transverse grooves a perforated floor-plate formed with an opening, and fitting the inclined grooves, both of said plates being bent at their outer edges to form flanges; parallel horizontal strips to which said flanges are reinovably secured, and a sliding transparent cover supported in grooves in the ends and back of the box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. BLANKENSHIP. \Vitnesses:

JNo. W. HOUSE, F. L. LEIDY.

plates are Se 

